Cartridge feed-belt for machine guns and method of making the same



JL A. HENDLEY CARTRIDGE FEED-BELT FOR MACHINE GUNS June 6, 1944.

AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Flled July 22, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 6, 1944. J. A. HENDLEY 2,350,456

CARTRIDGE FEED-BELT FOR MACHINE GUNS AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed July 22, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllllllllllllIllIllllllllllll llllllllllllllll N 32 A A A llIlllllllllllllllll]IlllllllllllllIHIIIIHIIIP L mnmuunm-S muumlmu fillll|IllIlllllllllllllllllfllllllllllllfllllll Illlllllllllllllllllllllllllllll! g H11UIIIHIHHIIlllllllllllllllllln hue/r2 02 James 62 fle/mi/ey June 6, 1944.

J. A. HENDLEY 2,350,456 CARTRIDGE FEED-BELT FOR MACHINE GUNS AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed July 22, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet s fly 10.

Patented June 6, 1944 CARTRIDGE FEED-BELT FOR MACHINE GUNS AND METHOD .OF

' SAME MAKING THE James A. Hendley, Middletown, Conn., assignor to Middletown, cut

The Russell Manufacturing Company,

Conn, a corporation of Connecti- Application July 22, 1942, Serial No. 451,972

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in woven cartridge feed-belts for machine guns, and methods of making the same.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved two-ply woven cartridge feed-belt for machine guns in which a single weft strand is alternately woven with warp strands of the different plies.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method of making the foregoing cartridge feed-belts.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear to those skilled in the art from the present disclosure, this invention includes all features in the said disclosure which are novel over the prior art.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of the present disclosure, in which certain ways of carrying out the invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of. a portion of a feed-belt made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of a fragment of the feed-belt shown in Fig. 1 so as to illustrate the weave construction;

Fig. 3 is an edge view of Fig. 2 with cartridges shown in certain of the pockets;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view similar to Fig. 2

but illustrating a fragment of belt in the process of manufacture;

Fig. 6 is a schematic elevational view of a feedbelt with one ply of Fig. 4 shown swung down to a position below the other ply thereof, and illustrating the mode of forming various portions of a pocket at successive stages of manufacture;

Fig. 7 is a formalized edge view of the feedbelt of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a schematic view similar to Fig. 6 of a modified form of construction;

Fig. 9 is an elevational view similar to Fig. 2 of a modified formof feed-belt but with the rear or cartridge edge of the feed-belt shown in an upward position instead of downward, as in Fi 2;

Fig. 10 is a fragmental elevational view similar to Fig. 9 but with the upper portion thereof cut away;

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view on line of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 but with the upper portion cut away to correspond to Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a schematic view with one ply of Fig. 11 swung upward above the other ply thereof to illustrate the weave construction; I

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but with a cartridge shown in position in a pocket; and

Fig. 15 is a side view of Fig. 14.

In the description and claims, the various parts and steps are identified by specific terms for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application as the prior art will permit.

In carrying out the invention in the way illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 of the drawings, the cartridge feed-belt 20 is formed of two plies of fabric 2| and 22 formed by weaving together two sets of warp strands 23 and 24 with a continuous weft strand 25. Part of each set of warp strands 23 and 24 cross one another from ply to ply along the line or region 26 to form a large pocket portion 21, and another portion of each set of warps 23 and 24 cross over from ply to ply twice as often along the lines or regions 28 and 29 to form a small pocket portion 30, the two pocket portions 21 and 30 together constituting a cartridge-receiving pocket 3|.

The weft or filling strand 25 is woven as a continuous strand with the sets of warp strands 23 and 24 as will now be explained. Referring to Fig. 6, and starting to consider the weft strand 25 at the point or location 32 in the ply 2| adjacent the warp cross-over region 26, the weft strand 25 is reversed back and forth at opposite edges of the ply 2| to produce the selvage-loops 33 at opposite ends of the weft portions or picks 34 of the weft strand 25. When the weft strand 25 reaches a location 35 adjacent the middle of a pocket 3|, it is then crossed over as a loose strand portion 36 to a location 31 in the ply 22 near the start of the same pocket 3|, and is then alternately reversed in direction to produce selvage-loops 38 at opposite edges of the ply 22 until the weft strand 25 reaches a location 39' near the completion of the same pocket 3|, whereupon it crosses over to ply 2| as a loose strand portion 40 to a location 4| in the ply 2|, whereupon it reverses itself back and forth to again produce selvage-loops 33 in ply 2| until it reaches a location 42 near the completion of the same pocket 3|, whereupon it passes directly across to a location 43 on the other ply 22, then is woven to provide a reverse selvage-loop 38 and returned to a location 44 on the ply 22, where upon it returns directly across to a location 32a on ply 2| of the next pocket 3| to be made, corresponding to the starting position 32 of the previous fully-described weaving of the immecould be at the front edge of the belt.

diately previous or preceding pocket 3|. It will thus be seen that this feed-belt can be manufactured on a single shuttle loom. And it will also be seen-that by having the two strand portions 36 and 40 of the weft strand extending from near the middle or center of the pocket in one ply, flaringly and preferably loosely :to locationsnear the opposite completion locations of the same pocket in the other ply, that when cartridges are filled into the pockets of the belt, the points of the projectiles of the cartridges will readily pass between the loose fiaringly-directed strand portions 36 and 40 without the latter breaking or interfering with the filling of the belt, or with the operationof the cartridge-filled While it is preferred to belts in a machine gun. have the flaring weft-strand portions 36 and 40 at the rear edge of the belt project through, it will be The form of the invention illustrated in Fig.v 8

is similar to the'form of the invention illustrated til the weft strand .48 reaches a location 55 nearl the middle of 'the pocket being woven, and isthen crossed over as a loose strand portion 56 to a location 51 in the other ply-4l near the start of the pocket being woven, and is then continuously woven in reverse directions in the ply. 41 and in being so woven produces selvage-loops 54 at opposite edges of the ply 41, and when the weft strand 48 reaches a'location 58 in the ply 41 near thecompletion of' said pocket it is then crossed over as a loose strand portion 59 to a location 60 in the ply 46near said middle of said pocket, and is then continuously woven in reverse directions, producing selvage-loops 54 at opposite edges of the ply 46 until it reaches a location 6| in the ply 46 near: the completion of said pocket. The weft strand 48 then proceeds back and forth between the plies 46 and 4'! successively from location 6| to location 62, from location 63 to location 64, from location 65 tolocation 66, and

from location 61 to location 5311 to form selvagee loops 54 and complete a cycle or repeat of the weft strand 48. Inasmuch. as the spacings between the weft-pick portions adjacent the edge of the ply 46 which contains the locations'5 and.

60 are only schematically shown in Fig. 8, the actual spacings of the weft-pick portions will be more uniform, and the positions of locations 55' and 60 will therefore be nearer pocket than shown.

If desired, the cross-over regions 50 of the warps can be-kept back as shown, from the front or cartridge-entranceedge of the belt by not crossing overany warps immediately adjacent this edge, in order to have the portions of the plies immediately adjacent the edge separate fI'OlIlOne another throughout the length of the belt to facilitate insertion of, the cartridges into the belt. Otherwise, the mode of construction the center of the and use ofthe belt 45 is essentially the same as has been more fully described concerning the belt ofFigs. 1 to 7. v r

where the projectiles appreciated that they In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 9 to 15 inclusive, a feed-belt is formed of two plies of fabric 68 and 69 made by weaving a single weft strand 19 with two sets of warpsll and I2 and with the extra warp strands 13, which strands .135rnay afterwards he cutE'aWay, as will hereinafter'be'more fully-described."= *The weft strand 10 is woven reversely on itself in the ply 68 to produce the selvage-loops 14 at opposite 10v edges .of the ply 68 at certain locations in the ply 68 as mostclearly illustrated in Fig. 13, and the weft strand Wis also woven in reverse directions in the other ply 69 to produce selvage-loops 14 at opposite edges of the ply 69 at certain intervals in the weaving of the belt, and at certain other intervalsthe weft strand 10 is 'woven with the extra warp strands 13 in making cross-over portions 75 and 16 between the two plies 68 and 69. Preferably, the extra warp strands 13 have relatively-large spaces, between them, so that the-weave at this edge of the belt will be a comparatively-loose weave where the crossover portions 15 and 16 occur. ..It will also be noted from Fig. 9 that the. cross-over portions '15 and Hi-tare relatively nearertheextreme rear edge of the beltthan are the selvage-loops 14. along the same edge. Thus, aftera belt'is woven in the manner illustrated in Figs. 9, 11 and 13, the portion of the belt'which includes the extra warp strands 13 and .the weft cross-over portions 15 and 16 can be cut away so astoleave a completed belt such-ias is illustrated in Figs. 10 and 12. i i r Instead of cutting away the extra warp strands 13 and the cross-over portions 15 and 16, these can 'be left on as part of the'belt, inasmuch as they form a very loosely-wovenportion along the rear edge of thebelt, and cartridges can be inserted into the belt in the usual manner in filling a machine-gun feed-belt. The length or depth ofv each pocket is considerably less than the length of the cartridges-to be inserted therein, the cartridges extending beyond the opposite ends of the pockets, and th bullet end-portionsof the cartridges poking out between the loosely-woven strand-portions 13, Hand vl6 in the manner 11- lustrated in Figs. 14..and 15. All forms of the invention illustrated can be woven upon a single shuttle looms At the cross-over locations, either all of' -the warp strands or only'part thereof could be crossed back and forth from ply to ply; to form the pockets. Thus, for example, each alternate warp strand of each set of warp strandsin'th-e crossover region could be crossed over. Where sets of warp strands are referred to, it does not mean that the same strands always form the same set, since, due to the crossing-over from ply to ply of warp strands, the identity of the warp strands forming the set in a ply will be different at different locations along the belt. v

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the :meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are cartridge feed-belt forpicks to. form a two-ply;

cessive cartridge-receiving pockets extending transversely of the belt; at least certain of the strands of each of said sets of warp strands crossing back and forth from one ply to the other to form said pockets; and said weft picks having been woven as a weft strand which at certain locations crosses back and forth from one ply to the other, and which weft strand at certain other locations reverses its direction in each ply at opposite edges of each ply; the length of each pocket being considerably less than the length of the cartridges to be inserted therein, and the pockets and the weft strand being constructed and arranged to have the cartridges extend beyond the opposite ends of the pockets and beyond the back-and-forth crossing-locationsiof: the weft strand 2. A strip-like woven cartridge feed-belt for machine guns comprising: two sets of warp strands woven with weft picks to form a two ply cartridge feed-belt having a plurality of successive cartridge-receiving pockets extending transversely of the belt; at least certain of the strands of each of said sets of warp strands crossing back and forth from one ply to the other to form said pockets; and said weft picks having been woven as a weft strand which at certain locations crosses back and forth from one ply to the other along the rear edge of the belt, and which weft strand at certain other locations reverses its direction in each ply at opposite edges of each ply; the length of each pocket being considerably less than the length of the cartridges to be inserted therein, and the pockets and the weft strand being constructed and arranged to have the cartridges extend beyond the opposite ends of the pockets and beyond the backand-forth crossing-locations of the weft strand.

3. A strip-like Woven cartridge feed-belt for machine guns comprising: two sets of warp strands woven with weft picks to form a two-ply cartridge feed-belt having a plurality of successive cartridge-receiving pockets extending transversely of the belt; at least certain of the strands of each of said sets of warp strands crossing back and forth from one ply to the other to form said pockets; and said weft picks having been woven as a weft strand which at certain locations crosses back and forth from one ply to the other, there being two relativelyd'iverging weft-strand crossings at each said pocket; the length of each pocket being considerably less than the length of the cartridges to be inserted therein, and the pockets and the weft strand being constructed and arranged to have the cartridges extend beyond the opposite ends of the pockets and beyond the back-andforth crossing-locations of the weft strand.

4. A strip-like woven cartridge feed-belt for :machine guns comprising: two sets of warp strands woven with weft picks to form a twoply cartridge feed-belt having a plurality of successive cartridge-receiving pockets extending transversely of the belt; at least certain of the strands of each of said sets of warp strands crossing back and forth from one ply to the other to form said pockets; and said weft picks having been woven as a weft strand which at certain locations crosses back and forth from one ply to the other, and which weft strand at certain other locations reverses its direction in each ply at opposite edges of each ply, there being two relatively-diverging weft-strand crossings at each said pocket; the length of each pocket being considerably less than the length of the cartridges to be inserted therein, and the pockets and the weft strand being constructed and arranged to have the cartridges extend beyond the opposite ends of the pockets and beyond the back-and-forth crossing-locations of the weft strand.

5. A strip-like woven cartridge feed-belt for machine guns comprising: two sets of warp strands woven with weft picks to form a two-ply cartridge feed-belt having a plurality of successive cartridge-receiving pockets extending transversely of the belt; at least certain of the strands of each of said sets of warp strands crossing back and forth from one ply to the other to form said pockets; and said weft picks having been woven as a weft strand which at certain locations crosses back and forth from one ply to the other along one edge of the belt relatively near said edge, and which weft strand reverses its direction in each ply at certain other locations relatively farther from said edge; the length of each pocket being considerably less than the length of the cartridges to be inserted therein, and the pockets and the weft strand being constructed and arranged to have the cartridges extend beyond the opposite ends of the pockets and beyond the back-and-forth crossing-locations of the Weft strand.

6. The method of making a strip-like woven cartridge feed-belt for machine guns comprising: weaving together two sets of warp strands with a weft strand to form a two-ply cartridge feedbelt having a plurality of cartridge-receiving pockets extending transversely of the belt, with at least certain of the strands of each of said sets of warp strands crossing back and forth from one ply to the other to form said pockets, said weft strand being periodically crossed back and forth from one ply to the other; said weft strand being continuously woven in reverse directions in one ply from a location near the start to a location near the middle of a pocket, then being crossed over to the other ply to a location near the start of said pocket, then being continuously woven in reverse directions in said other ply to a location near the completion of said pocket, then being crossed over to said one ply to a location near said middle of said pocket, and then being continuously woven in reverse directions in said one ply to a location near the completion of said pocket, and the corresponding portion of each other of said pockets being similarly woven.

JAMES A. HENDLEY. 

